Sewing machine



July 22 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 INVENTOR Jafin CR 6' L ned July '8, 1919 ATTORNEY 1. c. RING:

'snwme MACHINE Filed July 8. 1919 :s Sheets-Sheet 2 WI1$SESz INVENTOR ATTORNEY Jul 22 1924.

J. c. RINGE} "SEWING MACHINE Filed July 8, 1919 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR ATTORNEY I Patented July 22, 1924.

UNITED STTES JOHN c. amen, or smaller-can, oonnno'rrcur, 1 ss o x oia 'ro;nine,s steug a iigta ixn rgac rvame coMrAnY, A coaronnrronforivaw..i'nasayi" SE N Application filed July 8,

To all whom it mar/y concern:

Be it known that 1, JOHN C. HINGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Stratford, in the county of Fairfield and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sewing Machines, of which. the following is a specification, referencebeing had therein to the accompanying drawings,

This invention relates to improvements in sewing machines and in its present embodiment relates more particularly to improvements in sewing machine ruifling mechanisms.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a simple but effective mechanism whereby the action. and inaction of an actuated member may be controlled during the operation of the machine.

Another object of this invention is to provide eifective means for at will controlling the operative and inoperative positions of the actuated member.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the actuated member comprises a ruffling o-r gathering blade carried by a vibratory-arm adapted to be actuated by a rockshaft suitably journaled in the machine frame. Interposed between the rock-shaft and a rotary driving shaft is a pivo-tally supported lever provided with a segmentalguideway sustaining a slide-block, linked to a crank-arm on said rock-shaft and the position of which slide-block may be controlled at will during the operation of the machine to vary the extent of movement of the actua-ted member. At a point substantially coaxial with the fulcrum of the lever, one side of the segmental guideway is cut away so that by special means provided for the purpose the slide-block may be swung out of alinement with the curved p-a-tlnot said guideway, thereby rendering the actuated member inoperative. By this movement of parted to the rock-shaft, causing the retrac tion of the actuated member from operative cupied in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a rear end e1 the slide-block an additional throw is im;

arm into a non-interfering position.-

MAoHmn,

1919. Serial No. 3Q9,318.

Fig. l is a rear side elevation of a sewing machine illustrating an embodiment ofl'githhi present" invention with 'tlie neie'dle" a d, Presser-foot omitted and with the atuated member in its retracted inopera' tive position' Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the chine with the parts in the "position vation of the machine and'partlyin'se'c but with tlie,"actuated member in ope tive positionandincludingftlie needle resser-toot. 4' is a de'ta'l View; if controlling mechanism for the slidQblocli in the position i-llustrated in Figs. handy lteferring to the drawings; present invention is embodiedin a "sewing; machine, comprising a bed-plate 1 from which rises the hollow standard 2; sustaining the over? hanging bracket-arm terminating. the head-4. Journaled in suitablebeariiigs provided in the overhangingarm is 'thelmai'n or driving shaft 5; carrying'at one end belt-wheel" 6 and at its]apprisiit eridtdfi nected in theusual manner "iiot" showii with the needle-bar 7 'carrying the nee Le 8. suitablyjournaled for vrtical recipi (s: cation in the head, l is the 'pres serbar 9 car; r'ying the presser footlO adaptedto b 'e llfie'd out of contact with the work by means of the usual hand litter-lever, ll or the treadle actuated rock-lever 12. Any well known form of stitch-foriri i iig mechanism complen'iental to the needle 8 may:

is for that reason not illi istra ted carrier 15 I 2O embraced by a forkonone end of a lev 21, pivotally supported'fup'oin th'e vibl'iat arm 17 by means of a ivot-saw 22 and of which the "other end enters a controlli notch 23 formed in a stationary- ,bi lfet suitably secured to the head 4' bftlid'biiei? upon the bracket 32.

surrounding the shaft 47 and of which one hanging bracket-arm. A spring 21 connectcdat opposite ends to the lever 21 and bracket 24 acts to maintain the effective end of the. actuated member 13 during its operation in engagement with the work. A bridge-plate 25 secured by screws, as 26, upon the bracket 24 provides a guideway for the vibratory-arm 17 which is pivotally suspended from the head 4 by means of a pivotscrew 27.

The vibratory arm 17 is connected by means of a link 28 with a lateral arm 29 upon arock-shaft 3O journaled at its opposite ends in suitable bearings provided in brackets 31 and 32 secured to the rear side of the overhanging arm. Adjacent to the bracket 32, the rock-shaft 30 is provided with a lateral arm 33 pivotally connected with one end of a link 34 of which the 0pposite end is connected in a like manner and by means of a pivot-screw 34 with a slideblock 35 having a forwardly projecting finger 35. The slide-block 35 is slidingly adjustable in a segmental guideway 36, pro vided in a vibratory segment-lever 37 fulcrumed intermediate its ends upon a bracket 38 projecting from the overhanging bracketarm 3. The segment-lever 37 is vibrated by means of a pitman 39 having a strap embracing an eccentric 40 upon the mainor actuating-shaft 5. From the foregoing it. will be seen that the member 13 may be actuated to ruffie material passed to the stitchforming mechanism,- and that said movements of the actuated member 13 are dependent upon the position of the slide-block 35 in the guideway 36. The extreme movement in one direction of the slide-block in the guideway is preferably limited by an adjustable stop-block 41, so formed as to provide clearance for the finger 35 and locked in position by the thumb-nut 42 Itis however desirable to at times throw the actuated member 13 out of operation during'tl'ie operation of the machine and at the same time, throw the actuated member out of operative position so as not to interfere with intermediate operations. The present invention provides a simple solution foixthis problem and accomplishes both of these results by means acting through said operative connections inthe manner about to be described. I

The link 34 is formed intermediate its,

ends with an apertured ear 43 pivotally bolted to one arm 44 of a two-armed controlling lever 44 in turn pivoted by means of; pivot-screw 4.5 to the free end of a crank-arm 4611pon a treadle-aotuated rockshaftj47.' The rock-shaft 47 is journaled in I bearings"provided in spaced lugs, as '48, A coiled spring 50 end enters an aperture in the collar 5]. fast uponsaid shaft and of which the other end bears against one of the lugs 48 normally tends to turn the shaft 47 clockwise in the illustration of Fig. 2 and to an extent liin-- ited by a stop-screw threaded into the lug 48 and bearing against a shoulder 53 provided on the hub of the crank-arm 46. To turn the shaft 47 against the action of the coiled spring 50, a peripherally grooved segment 54 is suitably secured upon the shaft and is adapted to be connected with a t 1 treadle (not shown) by means of a chain 55 secured by a screw 56 to the segment and overlying the peripheral groove thereof.

lVhen it is desired to maintain the rock. shaft 4? in any given position and relieve the operator from the effort of maintaining it in said posit-ion, a clamp-screw 5'7 threaded into the lug 48 is adapted to'be caused to engage the shaft and lock the same against DIOVOIl'lGDlT by the spring 50, a, spring-plate 58 suitably secured to said lug acting to prevent the clamp-screw 57 from loosening under the vibration of the machine.

hen the spring 50 is permitted to rock the shaft 47, the slide-block is retracted in the direction of the axis of the segment-lever 37, the throw of the rock-shaft 30 thus grad-- ually approaching zero. At this point, the lower rib 59 of the guideway in the segment lever is cut away so that as the slide-bloc passes the axis of said segment-lever or in other words the Zero position, the end of the slide-block opposite the finger 35 may be displaced out of alinement with the arcuate path of the guideway 36, the finger 35 however remaining in engagement with the upper portion of the guideway. Positive means are provided to cause this displacement of the sideblocl: by the provision on an arm 44 of the two armed lever 44 of an adjustable screw-stud 60 adapted to engage the head 61 of a screw threaded into the machine frame.

In the operation of the present machine, when it is desired to ruffle the fabric the operator actuates the treadle' until the slide-block 35 enters the guideway 36 to an extent determined by the amount of ruffling desired. During an extended period of rattling with a certain degree of fullness, the operator may clamp the shaft 47 by meansof clampscrew 57., When it is desired to throw the rufliing blade or actuated member 13out of operation during the operation of the machine, the shaft 47 'is released to permit the spring 50 to retract the same in a counter-clockwise direction in 3 of the drawings. This movement of the' rock-shaft and consequently of the crank-arm 46 thereof, causes the two-armed lever 44 to act on the'link 34 and retract the slide-block 35-toward the axis of the segment lever 37 thereby throwing the actuated member 13 out of operation' WVhen the slide-block reaches the opening in the guideway 36, the screw-stud 60 engages the ill 4 Art the same time, the engagement of the upper end of lever 21 with a wall of the notch swings the operative end of the member 13 above the work and out of the way. The separator-blade and work-guides usually employed in this class of machines are omitted from the drawings to better illustrate the mechanism and in view of the fact that they are well'lrnown inthe art and form no part ofthe present invention.

It will be observed that upon the downward movement described of the pivotal point of the slide-block 3'5 that the rearward end tilts downwardly due to its greater weight, causing the finger 35 to remain in engagement with the guideway and thereby insure re-entrance of the slide-block into the guideway when it is desired to again commence a rufliingo-peration.

From the foregoing, it willbe observed that the controlling mechanism of the actuated member 13 not only determines the action and inaction of said actuated member and its operative position in action, but also determines its'inoperative position beyond its normal range of movement and transmits these several movements to the actuated member through the connections for causing thevsame to operate upon the work. 7 l

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim herein is 1. In a ruffling mechanism for sewing machines, in combination, a driving shaft, a rufHing-blade, connections between the driving shaft and said rufliing-blade for imparting operative movements to the lat ter, and treadle controlled means constructed and arranged to impart to said rufliing-blade during the operation of the machine a movement of greater amplitude than the normal range to throw said ruffling-blade into an inoperative position in alinement with but beyond its normal path of operating movement.

2. In a rufiling mechanism for sewing machines, in combination, a driving shaft, a rufliing-blade normally having a limited path of operative movement, operative connections between the driving shaft and the milling-blade including a vibratory lever, a?

slide-block shiftab'le upon said lever for varying the extent of movement of the rufliing-bl ad'e within said: limited path, and means constructed and arranged whereupon the shifting of said slide-block in one direction impel-ts to the rn fllifng- 'ade an increased amplitureof movement into inoperative positiou, througl i a path in alinement with but beyond the normat range of operative movement of the ruining-blade.

3. Ina rut-Hing mechanismfor sewing machines, in combination, a driving shaft, a ru-fliing-blade capable of being thrown into and out of operation and out of opera tive position during the operation ot the machine, connections between the dr i i-1 g shaft and the milling-blade for imparting operative n-iovements to the latter, means constructed and arranged for imparting to said raiding-blade an amplitude of movement greater than the normal range to throw said rnillingblade into an inoperative position in alin-eme-nt with but beyond its normal path of operative movement, and means for antoinatically tilting the r ufliing-bl ade oat of contact with thework by its movement into inoperative position.

- 4. In a rufhi-ng mechanism for sewing machines, in combination, a rotary actuating shaft, rattling-blade, operative connections intermediate the actuating shaft and said rufiiing-blade including a longitudinally immovable rock-shaft, a journal for said rockshaft, means under the control of the operator during the operation of the machine for throwing the rock-shaft into. and out of operation, and means for increasing the final movement of said rock-shaftbefore it is rendered ineffective to retract said rufllingblade in a path in alinement with but beyond its normal path of operative movement.

5. In a ruifling mechanism for sewin machines, in combination, a vibratory arm, a rufiIing-blade sustained by said vibratory arm, means for vibrating said arm to impart operative movements to. the" millingblade, treadle controlled means whereby said arm may be retracted during the operation of the machine in a patlrin alineme'nt with but beyond the normal range of operative movement and rendered inoperative, and means for automatically displacing the ruffling-blade relatively to the vibratory arm during said retracting movement into inoperative position.

6. In a rufiling mechanism for sewing machines, in combination, a vibratory arm, a ruflling-blade, a pivotal support for said ruflling-blade upon said vibratory arm, means for vibrating said arm to impart operative movements to the milling-blade,

treadle controlled means whereby said arm may be retracted during the operation of the machine in a path in alinement with but beyond its normal range of operative move ment and rendered inoperative, means for yieldingly urging said rufiling-blade in one direction upon its pivotal support during the normal operation of the vibratory arm, and means for automatically retracting the ruffling-blade upon its pivotal. support in the opposite direction as said vibratory arm is rendered inactive.

7. In a rutfling mechanism for sewing machines, in combination, a ruifling element, an actuating shaft, operative connections intermediate said actuating shaft and said ruffling element including a vibratory lever, a slide-block shiftable upon said lever in an arcuate path, and means constructed and arranged to retract said slide-block from said vibratory lever in a direction substantially transverse to said arcuate path to shift said rufiling-element into inoperative position.

8. In a rufliing mechanism for sewing machines, in combination, an actuating shaft, a rufHing-element, operative connections intermediate the actuating shaft and the ruining-element including a vibratory segment lever, a slide-block shiftable in an arcuate path upon said segment lever, a rock-shaft, a crank-arm upon said rockshaft, a link interposed between the crankarm. and said slide-block, and means for shifting said slide-block upon said segmentlever in an arcuate path to render said ruffling-element inoperative, said last named means acting to displace said slide-block when retracted, out of alinement with said arcuate path.

9. In a sewing machine, in combination, a rotary actuating shaft, a rufliing-element, operative connections intermediate the actuating shaft and said rufliing-element including a vibratory segment lever, a slideblock shiftable in an arcuate path upon said segment lever, a rock-shaft, a crankarm upon said rock-shaft, a link interposed between the crank-arm and said slide-block, means for shifting the slide-block upon said lever into retracted position, and means whereby a shifting of said slide-block imparts endwise movement to said link beyond its normal path of operative movement to thereby retract said rufliing element into inoperative position. 1

10. In a ruffling mechanism for sewing machines, in combination, an actuating shaft, a ruffling-element, operative connections intermediate said actuating shaft and of said slide-block upon said lever may be controlled against the action of said yi-eld ing means, and means whereby said slideblock remains in' ineffective contact with said segment lever intermediate the axis of vibration of said lever and the extreme retracted position of said slide-block.

11. In a ,rufliing mechanism for sewing machines, in combination, an shaft, a rufiiing element, operative connec tions intermediate said actuating shaft and the rufiiing-element including a vibratory lever, a slide-block shiftable upon said lever in an arcuate path, means constructed and arranged whereby at a predetermined point in said arcuate path the slide-block is shifted from said arcuate path in a direction substantially transverse thereto to throw said rufHing-blade into inoperative position, and means permitting adjustment of the point in said path where said slide-block is transversely shifted.

12. In a ruifling mechanism for sewing machines, in combination, an actuating shaft, a rufiling blade, operative connections intermediate said actuating shaft and said rufHing-blade including a vibratory lever, a slide-block shiftable in an arcuate path upon said lever, and means for limiting the movement of the slide-block in said arcuate path in one direction, said last named means acting to bodily displace said slide-block out of alinement with said arcuate path.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

JOHN C. HINGE.

actuating 

